Washington's Career Day Leads GW Women's Hoops Past UMass, 78-54

Jackson Surpasses 500 Career Assists

WASHINGTON - Freshman Caira Washington recorded career highs with 25 points and 16 rebounds to lead the George Washington women's basketball team past Massachusetts, 78-54, on Saturday afternoon at the Charles E. Smith Center.

GW improves to 18-8 overall and 9-4 in Atlantic 10 play. The Colonials' 18 wins are their most since 2007-08, and they are assured of a winning record in conference play for the first time since 2008-09.

Washington's 25 points came on 10-of-14 shooting, and six of her 16 rebounds came on the offensive glass. The 16 boards matched her career best, which she originally set against Saint Joseph's on Jan. 22. The rookie is averaging 18.8 points and 12.3 rebounds in her last four games.

Graduate student Megan Nipe scored 12 points and pulled down seven rebounds off the bench, and junior Chakecia Miller added 11 points and three assists. Sophomore Jonquel Jones recorded nine rebounds and three blocks to go with six points and sophomore Dalacy Anderson had a career-high eight boards with her six points. All 10 Colonials who dressed for the game made at least one field goal.

With eight assists in the game, grad student Danni Jackson surpassed 500 for her career. She becomes the fourth Colonial ever to reach the mark and just the second with 1,000 points and 500 assists, joining GW's all-time assists leader Kimberly Beck ('08).

UMass (3-23, 0-12 A-10) led, 17-14, at the 9:05 mark of the first half, but a three-point play by Miller tied the game and ignited a 20-5 GW run to end the period. Washington scored 11 of her 13 first-half points over the final 7:35. The Colonials held a 34-22 advantage at the break.

GW opened the second half strong, scoring the first 10 points of the period - all by Washington and Jones - to open a 44-22 lead, and the Minutewomen never got closer than 20 points the rest of the way. The Colonials' lead peaked at 27 four times, including 74-47 on a layup by freshman Shannon Cranshaw with 3:33 to go.

GW shot 47.5 percent in the second stanza, including seven straight shots to start the half, and held UMass to 29.3 percent in the period and 30.4 percent for the game. The Colonials outrebounded the Minutewomen, 58-40, and held an 18-9 advantage on second-chance points after pulling down 18 offensive boards.

Kim Pierre-Louis led UMass with 14 points off the bench, while Kiara Bomben scored 13. Rashida Timbilla recorded a team-high 12 rebounds.

The Colonials have a week off before visiting Atlantic 10 rival Richmond next Saturday, Feb. 22, at 12 p.m.